NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's) Nov. 28, 2001--Standard&Poor's today assigned its double-'A'/'A-1'-plus rating to the Indiana Health Facility Financing Authority's $505 million revenue bonds, series 2001A, issued for Ascension Health, Mo. In addition, Standard&Poor's affirmed all of its ratings and underlying ratings (SPURS) on the outstanding debt issued for Ascension Health. The rating reflects: -- The maintenance of a solid operating profile, highlighted by improved operations in each of the past two years, which was led by sharply improved performance at three of Ascension Health's larger local health ministries (although a weak stock market has hurt overall cash flow); -- Considerable geographic and financial dispersion among system members, as Ascension Health remains the largest non-governmental not-for-profit
